Federal health IT coordinator resigns
David Brailer, the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology has resigned, the Department of Health and Human Services announced.
Brailer was charged with implementing widespread use of health information technology within a 10-year timeframe. He was the first person to hold the position, which was created in 2004. His replacement has not been announced.The nursing home industry generally lags behind other healthcare sectors in implementing information technology. It is working to bridge that gap in coming years.
Brailer will serve as vice-chair of the American Health Information Community, a panel that makes recommendations to HHS on how to facilitate development and use of health information technology, according to HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt. Prior to taking the post in the Bush administration, Brailer, who is a physician, was senior fellow at the Health Technology Center in San Francisco.
